(Newser)
–
A month after three women and a young girl were found captive in a Cleveland home, Reuters checks in on the victims' situation, or at least their financial state. The Cleveland Courage Fund, a tax-free trust set up in their name, has been flooded with donations and now totals $825,000. The victims have begun dipping into the money, which will be split evenly among Gina DeJesus, Michelle Knight, Amanda Berry, and Berry's six-year-old daughter. "The outpouring of public support has been nothing short of remarkable," the victims previously said in a letter via ABC News.

"The community is acting in a way you would hope they would act," the fund's co-trustee told Reuters, adding the money will help the women with whatever they need. "Ten years out of society means not finishing school, no job training, and not learning how to drive." It's not only money that's being offered up. Doctors and dentists have volunteered their services, while others have donated the use of vacation homes and cars. Meanwhile, Reuters reports neighborhood residents have talked about tearing down Ariel Castro's now boarded-up house and planting four oak trees in its place.

People are generous and kind. These women went through hell and their mental state will need to be addressed before they can move on. The house should not be torn down until AFTER the trial of Mr. Castro because the jury MUST go in and see where the women were held captive. It is nice that the monies will be divided equally, but I feel that Gina and Michelle deserve a little more, especially Michelle because she was tortured longer and her face just might need reconstruction because of the beatings and Michelle does not have family support.

$28919642

Jun 7, 2013 8:56 AM CDT

The tearing down of a human monster's house is not new. Theodore Durrant, a 19th Century Serial Killer, who liked to murder his victims in churches, had his house destroyed. Likewise, the infamous Doctor H.H. Holmes, had his Murder Castle burned to the ground. there are many other examples.

ChicagoScott

Jun 7, 2013 7:44 AM CDT

I marvel at how the internet has changed people's life in the last few years for the better through this innovative method of crowd sourced funding. Ten years ago this would have never happened and these women would have been a footnote of this story with little assistance they could scrape together from traditional methods.